Monday, January 30, 2012

Imperial Guard Manticore

o/

So, we've been contemplating a return to Morristown to wage war once again across 'god's soccer field'. One thing I was lacking in our first venture there (aside from the aforementioned lack of cover) was a lack of long ranged and/or anti-tank firepower. So this time around I'll probably bring my renegade (gun line) IG. Six lascannons and a Basilisk go a long way towards alleviating the range/anti-tank problem. Another thing that also helps is my Manticore. However it was only half assembled and always deployed with a pile of missiles next to it. I didn't want to bring it to a tourney like that, so it became this weekend's painting project.

Not one of my better paint jobs but it came out decently I suppose. Despite using microsol the decals still have a little bit of a greyed halo around them. ...shrugs... oh well. In any case, as you can see the missile rack is movable though the missiles are glued in place. I didn't see an easy way to magnetize them, so skipped that. I'll just place a D4 next to it so show how many missiles have been fired. Most times the point is moot as despite its mediocre tabletop record, the Manticore is usually target priority #1!

On another note, the Manticore is sadly an end to an era. My renegade IG's vehicles are painted in a two tone camouflage of terracotta and scorched brown. However in their infinite wisdom, GW decided to discontinue terracotta quite some time ago, and as you can see at the bottom of my last terracotta paint pot at right, I'm pretty much out of it. When it was discontinued, the FLGS marked it down to 50% off to get rid of it, and I bought ALL OF IT! Not wanting to see another army get messed up by a discontinued color like my tau (nauseating blue) and Eldar (jade green) before it. The only things i have left that would need terracotta (the infantry color scheme varies) is a seventh lascannon and the third sabre platform. I doubt there's enough in this pot though to finish them off, instead the may end up being predominantly brown.

Already there are rumors that GW is changing paint manufacturer's again. Makes me wonder what other essential color I'm about to lose next? Will the ones they keep be consistent with old ones which was an issue when they left Coat d'arms (and yes, I could reorder some discontinued colors from them, but but paint is already expensive as hell to not order it from England). That leads into the next and most obvious assumption.

What? GW is changing their paints you say? What now? Even smaller pots with yet higher prices again? Let me guess, its called 'fine paint'...

And before anyone starts recommending vallejo & P3, I dislike the dropper style pots & there is that consistency issue that I mentioned. Though as often as I slather stuff in washes and layers of dry brushing, the latter may not be a valid excuse anymore...

12 comments:

  1. I like it! The red/black/green scheme is very striking, cool stuff!

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  2. I too like the split scheme. I think it's a nice change from the regular one-color tanks you see all the time.

    As for your paints, I don't know what to tell you. I too had it happen to me even with an off brand of paint... and it was for a commission project I was working on at that!

    Ron, From the Warp

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  3. Hey thanks guys! And Ron, ouch! I hadn't even thought of what that would do to a commission job. Like I said, I bought every pot the shop had, 4 or 5 of them, and am only now running out.

    Luckily though, Chaos & conformity really don't mix (in my opinion anyways), so I can at least adjust as necessary.

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  4. Last time they dropped colors i was in the middle of a commision. I actually had to go to home depot and get them to color match jade green and got a "small" tin of acrylic bher paint which I thinned mercillessly and used. Then I went back and washed everthing with a blue and green ink so that the very slight color difference didn't show. God help me but still like the GW brand the best.

    Zab

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  5. I want to play your ig sometime. My freshly painted models need someone to get shot down by

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  6. All times i've fought those damned renegades I'm thankfull you spared me the wrath of the Manticore! LOL!

    Have you ever tried to color match then with craft paint? Such as Applebattel, Folkart or Ceramacoat? You'll get a crap ton of paint compared to GW brands and the price is also considerably lower. I use these A LOT!

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  7. I may have to give that a try actually...

    Oh, and now that you've reminded me that you've never faced the Manticore, means I'll need to remedy that asap! So when are your Orks coming out to play???

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  8. Once again BS to the rescue. :) I think I have a pot of Terracotta, and if I do it's yours Sunday. I, too was a (paint) pot-a-holic. xxxJammerxxx and I use to have long in depth arguments about dropper bottles vs paint pots, but when GW came out with the 'stay closed pots' he won the argument. I haven't looked back. Reaper not only has the droppers, but a better paint mix as well... so does Vallejo... that's one reason GW is changing their line again.

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  9. Huzzah! You're awesome! (and if you actually have it then I'll even let you quote me on that)

    Rob suggested that I just wash out the empty paint pots & pour the contents of the droppers into them.

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  10. I DO have it and it is set aside for you. I have tried the washing out old pots and it sucks. Adjust to the future, O ye of Amish guard. :)

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